December 1, 2013
Gr 3-4-The "Choose Your Own Adventure" series has yet another spin-off. In Grave, schoolmates Dylan and Michael try to track down the gravesite of an old doctor suspected of some Frankenstein-type experiments for their local-history project. It has some creepy moments when the boys break into the cemetery. In Clawed!, Tray is scratched by a feral cat and begins to transform into a feline himself. Both of these fast-paced titles are almost exclusively plot driven; the author clearly has in mind boys who are not avid readers. The adventures are mostly tame and perfect for readers looking a creepy early chapter book. The occasional illustrations add little to the reading experience. Recommend these titles to those who would enjoy the freedom of choosing their own endings.-Keith Klang, Port Washington Public Library, NY
Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2014
Mystery, horror, historical fiction, western--there's something for everyone in this facile series. The books feature a duo of characters who embark on adventures with vacillating levels of drama and tension. About fifty pages into each book, readers are offered three different endings. Some newly independent readers may appreciate the formulaic choose-your-own-adventure setup. Black-and-white illustrations accompany the easy-to-read chapters.
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)